Erin R. Moody ’05 reflects on her Quinnipiac friends becoming family

I showed up at Quinnipiac in the fall of 2001 with no clue that the people I met my freshman year would become my forever family. Back then, we were just a bunch of kids trying to figure out how to do laundry without shrinking everything and pretending we understood what 'credit hours' meant. But somewhere between late‑night laughs, cafeteria adventures, and the beautiful chaos of Mountainview and The Hill, something real took root. By the time we graduated in 2005, our bond was already solid — but I had no idea it would only get stronger. These are the people I rely on, the ones who show up, the ones who know my history because they lived every ridiculous, hilarious, emotional moment right alongside me. And the best part? Every time we’re together, we snap right back into our old rhythm. Same jokes. Same laughter. Same 'how did we survive college' energy. It’s like stepping straight back onto campus, except now we have better skincare routines and slightly earlier bedtimes. One of my favorite full‑circle moments: in college, we used to talk about taking a big trip together when we turned 40. At the time, 40 felt like a distant, mythical age — basically ancient. Well, plot twist ... we hit 40 two years ago, and we actually did it. We took the trip. We kept the promise our younger selves made, and it was everything we hoped for — proof that some friendships don’t fade, they just get funnier and more meaningful with time. I never expected that a random mix of freshmen would become my lifelong circle. But they did. And the bond we built at Quinnipiac is stronger than blood. It’s love, loyalty and a lifetime of shared memories. They’re my people. My family. And I’m grateful every single day that Quinnipiac brought us together.